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Sex Around The Time of Embryo Transfer Increases The Likelihood of Successful Early Embryo Implantation and Development.

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Research has now shown that sex around the time of embryo transfer increases the likelihood of successful early embryo implantation and development.

Intercourse during an IVF cycle has the potential to improve pregnancy rates and there is adequate research to now back this up. We know that in animal studies, exposure to semen is reported to promote embryo development and implantation.

Intercourse may assist implantation

This is actually good news for humans as well as it shows that intercourse may act to assist implantation. Animal studies reveal that exposure to seminal plasma, the fluid component of the ejaculate, is particularly important for achieving normal embryo development and implantation. Animals that become pregnant through artificial insemination or embryo transfer without being exposed to seminal plasma have substantially lower rates of implantation than those exposed to seminal plasma (Pang et al., 1979; Queen et al., 1981; O et al., 1988; Flowers and Esbenshade, 1993), while rodents inseminated with spermatozoa prior to blastocyst transfer also have a higher rate of implantation compared with those not exposed to spermatozoa (Carp et al., 1984).

Intercourse may influence pregnancy success rates

A multicentre prospective randomised controlled trial was conducted through IVF centred around the world, including Australia. The study was conducted to determine if intercourse around the time of embryo transfer, or just before and embryo transfer in an IVF cycle, actually has the potential to have any influence on pregnancy success rates.

Participants in Australian IVF clinics underwent frozen embryo transfer (FET) and participants in Spain IVF clinics did fresh embryo transfer. Participants were randomised to either have intercourse, or to abstain from intercourse around the time of embryo transfer.

The study showed that there was no significant difference in the pregnancy rates between those couples that abstained and those that had intercourse. However, the portion of transferred embryos that made it to 6-8 weeks gestation was significantly higher in the women exposed to semen compared to those who abstained.

This landmark multi-centre international study showed that women who had sex around the time of embryo transfer, and who were exposed to semen around the time of embryo transfer, had increased likelihood of successful early embryo implantation and development.

Couples need to be having more sex during IVF cycles

One of the things that I always promote as part of my fertility program, is that regular sex is so important for our fertility patients, on many levels. Sometimes the obvious eludes some people though.

One of the things we see quite regularly is that couples doing Assisted Reproduction (ART) are abstaining from sex fearing it will affect their chances of conceiving. Actually the opposite is true. By not having sex during ART cycles (IUI, IVF etc) you are affecting your chances of conception.

I have spoken about the importance of sex and orgasm assisting implantation in other posts and there is so much medical research to back this up. This is seen in the research I have talked about above.

Let’s be real and look at the facts

Let ask the question “If you were trying naturally, would you stop having sex for fear that conception has taken place?”

Then why would you stop having sex around an ART cycle?

Let’s face the facts, implantation takes place in the uterus, and not the vagina, and no man is that well endowed to even penetrate the cervix, so…. Let’s get a grip here

The question to ask is “What does an embryo feed off and need to successfully implant?”

The answer is blood!

Think of a tick borrowing into skin to feed off its host.

How do you get blood flow into the uterine lining?

The answer is that sex and climax stimulate blood flow to the lining to assist implantation and also prepare the lining for implantation. Nature has given us all the tools for healthy conception to take place, and yet many of us just aren’t using them.

Sex is more than just and egg and a sperm

Don’t forget that regular sex during this time not only helps assist implantation, but it also helps with the bonding process and physical connection process during this stressful time. Many couples split up because of losing this connection during the ART process and sex is a way of keeping that physical and emotional connection. Sex also tells your body you are also preparing to conceive on another level too.

For those doing IVF etc, next time you are doing an ART cycle maybe it is time to start doing things the way nature intended to give you that boost you so desperately are needing. Go get busy people

Final Word

If you are struggling to fall pregnant, or need advice with preconception care, please give my friendly staff a call and find out how my fertility program, which has helped over 12,500 babies into the world, may be able to assist you too.

Regards

Andrew Orr

– No Stone Left Unturned

-Master of Reproductive Medicine

-Master of Women’s Health Medicine

-The International Fertility Experts

References:

  1. http://humre.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/12/2653.short…
  2. Bellinge, B.S., Copeland, C.M., Thomas, T.D. et al. (1986) The influence of patient insemination on the implantation rate in an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program. Fertil. Steril. , 46, 252–256.
  3. Carp, H.J.A., Serr, D.M., Mashiach, S. et al. (1984) Influence of insemination on the implantation of transfered rat blastocysts. Gynecol. Obstet. Invest. , 18, 194–198.
  4. Coulam, C.B. and Stern, J.J. (1995) Effect of seminal plasma on implantation rates. Early Pregnancy , 1, 33–36.
  5. Fishel, S., Webster, J., Jackson, P. and Faratian, B. (1989) Evaluation of high vaginal insemination at oocyte recovery in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. Fertil. Steril. , 51, 135–138.
  6. Franchin, R., Harmas, A., Benaoudia, F. et al. (1998a) Microbial flora of the cervix assessed at the time of embryo transfer adversely affects in vitro fertilization outcome. Fertil. Steril. , 70, 866–870.
  7. Franchin, R., Righini, C., Olivennes, F. et al. (1998b) Uterine contractions at the time of embryo transfer alter pregnancy rates after in-vitro fertilization. Hum. Reprod. , 13, 1968–1974.
  8. Marconi, G., Auge, L., Oses, R. et al. (1989) Does sexual intercourse improve pregnancy rates in gamete intrafallopian transfer? Fertil. Steril. , 51, 357–359.
  9. Pang, S.F., Chow, P.H. and Wong, T.M. (1979) The role of the seminal vesicles, coagulating glands and prostate glands on the fertility and fecundity of mice. J. Reprod. Fertil. , 56, 129–132.
  10. Qasim, S.M., Trias, A., Karacan, M. et al. (1996) Does the absence or presence of seminal fluid matter in patients undergoing ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination? Hum. Reprod. , 11, 1008–1010.

 

Sperm meets an egg

Regular sex found to trigger ovulation in females & make them more fertile.

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Regular sex isn’t just beneficial for ones health, physical and mental well being and happiness.  Researchers have now found that regular sex and a protein in seminal fluid actually helps to trigger ovulation in females and make them more fertile to sustain a pregnancy.

Semen isn’t just a vehicle for carrying sperm

Semen isn’t just a vehicle for carrying sperm and studies actual now show that it also plays a crucial role in triggering ovulation. Researchers have discovered the protein in the seminal fluid acts as a hormonal signal on the female brain. This triggers the release of other hormones that signal the ovaries to release an egg.

The international team of researchers at the University of Saskatchewan, found this protein in a variety of mammals and say it plays an important role in reproduction in all mammals.

Male mammals have accessory sex glands that contribute seminal fluid to semen, but the role of this fluid and the glands that produce it are not well understood. From the results of the research, it is now understood that these glands produce large amounts of a protein that has a direct effect on the female brain and reproductive organs.

Ovulation Inducing Factor (OIF)

The protein, which was dubbed the ‘ovulation-inducing factor’ (OIF), works through the hypothalamus of the female brain. This part of the brain links the nervous system to the endocrine system (a system of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream) via the pituitary gland.

The idea that a substance in mammalian semen has a direct effect on the female brain is not a new one, but now there is research to back these theories up. The scientists also discovered it is the same molecule that regulates the growth, maintenance, and survival of nerve cells.

OIF affects ovulation and fertility

In this study, they also looked at how OIF not only affected ovulation in females, but how it also affected their fertility and chances of a pregnancy.

For the purposes of the study, the research team looked at two species of mammals, that being llamas and cattle. They did this because Llamas are ‘induced ovulators, meaning that they ovulate only when they have been inseminated. Cows and humans on the other hand are ‘spontaneous ovulators,’ meaning that a regular build up of hormones stimulates the release of an egg.

Using a variety of techniques, the researchers found OIF present in semen samples taken from both animals. However, when they injected the llamas with this protein it caused them to ovulate. The same effect wasn’t seen in cattle.

While OIF didn’t appear to induce ovulation in spontaneous ovulators, such as cows and human, it did affect fertility in different ways. The protein was found to effect the timing of when cattle developed follicles (fluid-filled sacs in the ovary which carry the eggs). The researcher also found that OIF promoted the development of a temporary endocrine structure needed to sustain pregnancy.

Research has broaden our understanding of ovulation and fertility

This research definitely helps to broaden our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate ovulation and also helps to raises some interesting insights into fertility. More research is needed to see what role OIF plays in human fertility, as the researchers suspect it will be exactly the same. The study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

It is great to see this research getting out there and this is something that I have promoted and taught for ages. It is great to see actual research to back up what I have teaching for years. Let’s face it, many of our advancements in fertility have actually come from veterinary science through use of IVF in cattle.

Couples undergoing IVF need to be having more sex

This is also great research that showed why couples trying to have a baby, or undergoing fertility treatments (IVF etc) need to still be having sex. It isn’t rocket science, yet so many people forget basic biology and that we are actually still an animal.

The problem is that so many couples actually stop having sex when doing assisted reproduction such as IVF. While I can totally understand the whole emotional aspect of why, it is still hindering their chances of conception and having a successful pregnancy. It is a truth that must be talked about and also get couples to understand.

Regular sex also helps with connection for the couple

I am always telling them how important it is to still have an active sex life, for the benefit of a happy, healthy relationship. It is also about the connection and not just about having sex. We do see so many couples split up while undergoing IVF and assisted reproduction, and some of this is purely due to lack of bonding and connection with their partner.

But even so, regular sex and intercourse also gives the chance of a natural pregnancy too, no matter how slim the chance for some couples. We still see couples that have done multiple cycles of IVF still conceiving naturally, but you actually have to have sex for this to happen.

Now we have research, which shows that a protein in seminal fluid actually acts as a hormonal signal that actually triggers ovulation, improves egg quality and may in fact make a woman more fertile for a pregnancy to take place. Again, when you look at this logically, it really is not rocket science and really is easy to understand.

Regular sex while doing IVF improves pregnancy rates.

This is why it is so important for all our couples using ART (Assisted Reproduction Therapy) and IVF to still keep having sex. Regular sex and more importantly regular climax, increases your sex hormones, helps regulate hormones, increases blood flow to the uterine lining, helps with libido, helps with egg quality, helps for better ovulation and most of all improves your fertility and the chance of sustaining a pregnancy. There is also research to show that regular sex before and after IVF transfer, improves pregnancy rates and I will talk about this research in another article on it’s own.

Final Word

If you are struggling to have a baby, and need help with fertility issues, then talk to my friendly staff about how our fertility program might be able to assist you. It has helped over 12,500 babies into the world… and counting.

Regards

Andrew Orr

-No Stone Left Unturned

-Master of Reproductive Medicine

-Master of Women’s Health Medicine

-The International Fertility Experts